The Coach

Q & A With John Spencer

GLASGOWNATIVE, JOHNSPENCER scored goals for elite soccer teams in Europe, starred in MLS, and became an up-and-coming assistant coach for the Houston Dynamo. Now, the Timbers’ Affable 40-year-old boss gives us his thoughts on the players, the fans, and his plans for his adopted home.

WHYDIDYOUCOME TO PORTLAND?
Pressure. A Timbers match is the most European-type atmosphere in MLS. Our fans know the game, and you have the Pacific Northwest history of the Timbers, the Vancouver Whitecaps, and the Seattle Sounders going at it, from the ’70s on. People say we’re an expansion team. I don’t think Timbers fans look at us as an expansion team. It’s good pressure.

WHAT’S YOURIMPRESSION SO FAR?
Not one person in American professional soccer has one bad thing to say about the city, soccer-wise. And culturally, it’s very much like Glasgow, Scotland, where I come from. It’s soccer-mad. Some cities in America you don’t have that. We know that if we play well, we’re going to get attention.

YOU’VE DESCRIBEDBOTHPORTLANDANDYOURAPPROACH AS "BLUECOLLAR." WHAT DO YOUMEAN?
During an economic crisis, fans work hard for their money. It’s tough. And yet they’re buying season tickets and merchandise. Look, we’re not going to play well every week. We’re human beings. But fans must see effort. When we walk off right in front of the Timbers Army, if we haven’t played well, it won’t be me telling them that. They’ll have thousands of people giving them … not abuse, but they’ll voice their opinion. You don’t want prima donnas in this kind of city.

YOUTURNEDPRO AT AGE 15. DOESAMERICAPRODUCE A DIFFERENTKIND OF PLAYER?
Back in Scotland, the upbringing is just tougher. Most of the top European players, they come from the run-down neighborhoods and the low-income families. Most American soccer players come from middle to upper classes. And our coaches were tougher on us back then, but I think that’s just society changing. Maybe kids are a little bit spoiled everywhere now—I know my own are. But people don’t give American soccer enough credit. European teams are fighting over American players, not British players. American guys are trustworthy and intelligent. You don’t need to worry about them going off the rails.

THESEATTLESOUNDERS—OURRIVAL—JOINEDMLS IN 2009 ANDWERE A HUGESUCCESS. DIESTHATINTENSIFYTHEPRESSURE?
You could put four sweatshirts down on the street as goalposts and say the Timbers are playing the Sounders, and 7,000 people would show up. Our fans are crazy—we don’t need to create anything. Seattle has done a good job. I know Timbers fans don’t like to hear that, but you’ve got to give credit where it’s due.

BUTYOUWILLBEATTHEM, RIGHT?
We need to beat a lot of teams. Would you rather beat Seattle twice and not make the playoffs, or lose those two games and make the playoffs?

IT’S DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE.
Not for me.

WHATAREYOURBROADERAMBITIONSHERE?
Every MLS team is required to have a youth development academy. I would love to sit back in 10 or 15 years, look at the Timbers, and see that seven or eight of the players are from Portland. Hopefully, Portland will soon be famous not just for making wine and beer, but for producing soccer players.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, WHAT DO YOUTHINK OF THEMICROBREW?
People ask me, “You’re a Scotsman—do you drink beer and play golf?” And I don’t do a lot of either. Golf, I don’t have the temperament for it. It’s a gentleman’s game. I don’t have the etiquette. I’m not a big beer drinker, to be honest. More red wine. I’m trying to lose some pounds.

OREGONPINOTNOIR, OF COURSE.
Nice, yeah. I had a glass of that the other night in Baltimore, at the draft. Hopefully, we’ll have a few more.

WHAT’S YOURSALESPITCHFORSOCCERNEOPHYTES?
There’s nothing worse than coming to the cinema and the movie’s already started. Get in. Get your seat.

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